Automatic choke-valve-actuating device



s. E. MERRILL.

AUTOMATIC CHOKE VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE.

APPIFICATION EILED mm: 9. 1920.

1,37 9,274. Patented May 24,1921.

A TTORNEY- STEPHEN E. MERRILL, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEW YORK. I

AUTOMATIC CHQKE-VALVE-AC'IUATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d M 24 1 Application filed June 9, 1920. Serial No. 387,704.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, S'rnPHErI E. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Richmond, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Choke-Valve-Actuating Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as w1 ll enable oth'ers skilled in the art to whlch 1t appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the best form in which I have contemplated embodying the invention, selected by me for purposes of illustratlon, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims. I

,Oertain automobile engines are provlded with a hand operated starting crank which is normally disconnected from the engine shaft and is connected therewith by moving the starting crank longitudinally, thereby bringing a clutch member carried by the starting crank shaft into engagement with a clutch member on the engine shaft. Such engines are also ordinarily provided with what is termed a choke valve, located in the air inlet for the carbureter, and normally maintained in open position by a spring, or otherwise, but which can be closed when it is desired to start the engine. This choke valve is entirely separate from andindependent of the throttle valve of the engine and its effect is to shut off to a ve great extent, the admission of air to the carbureter so that when the starting crank is operated, the suction strokes of the engine pistons will draw in a charge which is very rich in gasolene content, as compared with the ordinary charge, and this is necessary to insure starting. It is highly important that the choke valve should not be closed an instant longer than necessary, as otherwise the continued explosion of such rich charges would cause carbon to be deposited on the spark plugs and interfere with the proper running of the engine; In such engines it is necessary, therefore, to provide a spring to hold the choke valve open, and an actuating connection, usually a wire or rod extending from the carbureter to the front part of the engine adjacent to the crank shaft and DIOVldB it with a ring or handle within reach of the operator when starting the engine. It is therein, necessary for the operator to draw out the choke valve actuating connection with one hand, at the same time that he operates the starting crank shaft, and he must not only rotate the crank, but push it inward in order to brlng the-clutch members into operative engagement. This necessitates the operator using both hands and interferes with his freedom of movement in operating the starting crank.

y invention comprises an attachment which I have devised particularly to meet th1s s1tuation, and have constructed with speclal regard to its being quickly and convenlently attached to engines constructed as before described, and particularly the Ford englne. My invention comprises a bracket provided with means for attaching it to a statlonary part of the engine, a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided at one end wlth a yoke, preferably ivoted thereto, and engaging a sleeve w ich I prefer to form of the proper size to fit over the sleeve portion of the clutch member carried by the starting crank shaft and my sleeve is provided with pin holes adapted to register with the pin holes in the clutch member sleeve so that the sleeve of my attachment can be placed over the clutch member sleeve and secured by a slightly longer pin passing through the registering apertures. The other end of the lever is provided with means for connecting it, preferably adjustably, and also preferably through the intervention of a coil spring with the wire or other connection leading to the choke valve, the adjustment providing for a variation in the throw of the lever according to the throw of the particular choke valve with which it is used and the spring providing a slight yield in the connections between the valve and lever so that the full opening of the valve can be secured without danger of breaking the parts.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and I have illustrated it in connection with the well known Ford engine. In these drawigure 1 represents a top plan view of a Ford automobile engine showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of my attachment showing the starting crank shaft and clutch member sleeve of the engine, partly in section, in association therewith.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view show ng my improved attachment and illustrating the connection to the choke valve of the carbureter, the other parts of the engine not being shown.

In the form of the invention herein shown, 1 represents a supporting bracket which is provided at its inner end with a securing aperture 2 to enable it to be secured to a stationary part of the engine. I find 1t convenient in the Ford engine to secure this bracket to a screw, indicated at 3 in Fig. 1, which holds in place a spring 4, the outer end of which rests upon a removable cap 5 ofthe distributer, but I do not limit myself to attaching the bracket to this particular partof the 'engine as it may be secured to other parts and given the necessary form to accommodate it under such circumstances. For convenience of attachment I prefer to provide the bracket 1 with a spring 4 of the same shape as the usual distributer -over spring supplied with the engine, and to unite the spring 4 rigidly to the bracket 1 to i give greater strength and stability to the bracket so that the bracket can be placed in position by simply removing the old spring from the screw 3 and placing the bracket 1 and spring 4 of my device in place, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which case I preferto unite the spring and bracket by welding or by riveting, or otherwise. I may, however, form the bracket without the spring, as shown in Fig. 3, and leave the spring for the distributer cover. At the outer end of the bracket 1 I pivot a lever 6 at a point between the ends of the lever, one end of the lever being provided with a yoke 7 preferably pivoted thereto, at 8, and fitting in a groove 9, in a sleeve 10. While it is not absolutely necessary, I prefer to have the yoke entirely surrounding the sleeve 10 so as to retain the sleeve, while permitting it to revolve inside of the yoke, but I may form the yoke in other ways, and may secure it rigidly to the lever 6 instead of pivotally, if preferred. 11 represents the starting crank shaft of the engine which is movable longitudinally in a suitable supporting bearing 12, and is held in inoperative position by a spring 13, the crank shaft being provided with the sual starting crank 14. The inner end of the starting crank shaft 11 is provided with a clutch member 15 having a sleeve portion 16 fitted on the end of the shaft which is conveniently made square, as indicated-at 11 in Fig. 2, where it is shown in section, and the sleeve 16 and the squared portion of the shaft are provided with registering apertures to receive a pin. The sleeve 10 of my Jig attachment is preferably made of such size internally that it will fit over the sleeve 16,

and it"is provided with apertures, indicated at 17, to register with the in apertures in the sleeve 16. I provide with my device a pin 18 slightly longer than the usual pin furnished with the engine so that it is only necessary to knock out the original pin, detach the clutch member 15 from the starting crank shaft 11, place the sleeve 10 over the sleeve 15, replace the clutch member, and insert the pin 18 through the registering holes in the two sleeves and shaft, to secure the sleeve 10 in proper working position.

The other end of the lever 6 is provided indicated at 25. The choke valve is located in the air intake pipe 26 of the carbureter 27, and as shown, is provided with an arm 28, to which the wire or connection 24 is secured at its rear end. The choke valve is also provided with means for normally holding it '0 en, consisting in this instance of a coil spring 29 to hold the arm 28 against a stop 30, and a similar stop 31 may be provided to arrest the arm 28 when the choke valve is completely closed, or the choke valve may be stopped or arrested in closed position in any other desired manner. By means of the adjustment provided by the sliding block 20 and set screw 21, the throw of the lever may be varied to accommodate the throw required to close the choke valve according to the particular make of carbureter employed, and the spring 19 allows the ap paratus to be set so as to provide slightly more movement than is necessary, thereby insuring the closing of the valve without danger of breaking any of the parts. In the carbureter shown in Fig. 3, the throttle is indicated at 32, provided with an actuating arm 33 and connection 34 (broken away), which leads to the throttle control on the steering wheel, or at other suitable location in the car, and it is to be understood that the choke valve is entirely independent of the throttle valve. In starting the engine it is customary to set the throttle and adjust the timing apparatus of the ignition mechanism in the position most favorable for starting, after which it is only necessary for the operator to press in the starting crank and turn it in order to start the engine. The inward movement of the starting crank shaft, as will be readily seen, automatically closes the choke valve and provides, a very rich mixture for starting. At the instant that the engine starts the starting crank shaft is withdrawn, thereby releasing the choke valve which opens fully under the influence of its spring 29 and allows the proper amount of air to enter for the leaner running mixture, thus avoiding sooty spark plugs.

It will be seen at once that my improved attachment is of great utility and convenience in that the choke valve is automaticall controlled in the best possible manner.-

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An attachment for automobile engines, provided with a choke valve and hand operated starting crank shaft, movable longitudinally into and out of operative relation with the engine shaft, comprising a supporting bracket provided with means for attaching it to a stationary part of the engine, a lever pivotally secured to said racket, a yoke pivotally connected to one end of said lever, a sleeve engaged by said yoke, said sleeve being provided with means for securing it to the starting crank shaft, for rotation therewith, said lever being provided adjacent to its other end with means for connecting it to the choke valve operating connection, whereby the longitudinal movement of the starting crank shaft into operative relation with the engine shaft will automatically close the choke valve.

2. An attachment for automobile engines provided with a choke valve, an actuating connection therefor, and a hand operated starting crank shaft movable longitudinally into and out of operative relation with the engine shaft, and provided with a clutch member havmg a sleeve portion engaging said shaft and pinned thereto, said attachment consisting of a bracket provided with means for attaching it to a stationary part of the engine, a lever pivoted to said bracket, a yoke pivoted to one end of the said lever, a yoke engagmg sleeve fitting the sleeve portion of the said clutch member, and provided with pin apertures adapted to register with those of said clutch member sleeve, sald yoke sleeve having an annular groove engaging said yoke, said lever being provided adjacent to its other end with means for engaging the connection to the choke valve, whereby thelongitudinal movement of said crank shaft into operative position will close the choke valve.

3. An attachment for automobile engines provided with a choke valve, an actuating connection therefor, and a hand operated starting crank shaft movable longitudinally into and out of operative relation with the engine shaft, said attachment comprisin a bracket provided with means for attaching it to a stationary part of the engine, a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided at one end with a yoke, a sleeve engaged by said yoke and adapted to be secured to said shaft, to rotate therewith, and move longitudinally therewith, said lever being provided at the other end with adjustable means for engaging the choke valve actuating connection, for varying the movement imparted thereto by the longitudinal movement of the starting crank shaft.

4. An attachment for automobile engines provided with a choke valve, an actuating connection therefor, and a hand operated startingcrank shaft movable longitudinally into and out of operative relation with the engine shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket provided with means for attaching it to a stationary part of the engine, a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided at one end with a oke, a sleeve engaged by said yoke and a apted to be secured to said shaft, to rotate therewith, and move longitudinally therewith, said lever being provided at the other end with a spring, and means for connecting said spring to the choke valve actuating connection.

5. An attachment for automobile engines provided with a choke valve, an actuating connection therefor, and a hand operated starting crank shaft movable longitudinally into and out of operative relation with the engine shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket provided with means for attaching it to a stationary part of the engine, a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided at one end with a yoke, a sleeve engaged by said yoke and adapted to be secured to said shaft, to rotate therewith, and move longitudinally therewith, said lever being provided at the other end with a spring rovided with means I for attaching it to the c oke valve actuating connection, and means for adjusting the position of the spring with respect to the pivot of said lever to vary the throw imparted to said spring and choke valve actuating connection.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature STEPHEN E. MER ILL 

